United States of Kennedy

Finale: What We’ve Learned About the Kennedys

Over the last 10 months, we’ve explored family drama, political scandal, unsolved mysteries, forgotten and misunderstood historical figures, and countless conspiracy theories. In the final episode of United States of Kennedy, we take stock of everything we’ve learned and attempt to answer the questions we still have about the most infamous American dynasty. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy

We’re finally going back to where it all began. Joe Kennedy — father to the nine Kennedy children — was a banker, a real estate baron, a liquor magnate, a Hollywood producer, a Washington insider, the first ever chair of the SEC, and the disgraced ambassador to the UK during World War II. We dive into his not-so-humble beginnings, his monumental successes in business and finance, and his complicated legacy as a political figure and patriarch of one of the most prominent families in American history. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Rise of RFK Jr.

RFK Jr., currently the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Trump, has come up repeatedly on the podcast over the last year. We finally do a deep dive into his origin story and pre-Trump past, from family tragedy to environmental law to his turbulent personal life to his habit of… collecting roadkill? Plus: We check in on Jack Schlossberg’s congressional run.  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Eunice Kennedy’s Lasting Legacy

Eunice was the fifth of Joseph and Rose Kennedy’s nine children. While she’s perhaps best known as the founder of the Special Olympics, that was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of her lifelong commitment to public service and disability rights. To unpack Eunice’s life and legacy, we’re joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World, Eileen McNamara. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

‘Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’: Part Two

Since we recapped the first three episodes of Ryan Murphy’s ‘Love Story’, it has become the most streamed limited series on FX — and TikTok’s favorite show to argue about. We discuss what’s behind the overwhelming popularity of the show, Daryl Hannah’s searing New York Times op-ed about her portrayal, past guest Glynnis MacNichol’s new essay about Carolyn Bessette’s New York, and what it all means for the Kennedy brand. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.